

Also, remember the age-old adage: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Something more like this will net better results. send imei and I mebbe will by ur phone” doesn’t set quite the right tone. If you’re looking for a phone in the used market (whether you plan to bring it to Ting or not), the best advice we can give is to ask for the IMEI (or ESN or MEID) of anything you’re seriously considering buying.Īny reputable seller will provide the IMEI (/ESN/MEID) if you ask politely and state your reasoning clearly. If punching *#06# on the dial pad nets nothing, Wikihow has some alternate IMEI-getting methods covering other devices too.

While the #*06# method will work on most devices, it isn’t universal. Here’s the same information in animated GIF form (the best of all the forms). So, what is my IMEI number? The easiest way to find the IMEI of just about any smartphone is by simply opening the phone dialer and inputting *#06#. Used device sellers: If a buyer asks for a phone’s IMEI and seems cool, provide it. Tl dr: Used device buyers: Always ask for the IMEI. If you’re interested in bringing your own device to Ting, you’ll be asked for this number in order to find out if it’s compatible. What IMEI stands for isn’t important for this discussion, though you may sometimes see different initialisms (MEID, ESN) for what is, in effect, the same idea: a unique identifier that says a lot about a device.

Not providing it is probably a deal-breaker. Providing it shows you’re acting in good faith. If you’ve ever sold a used car privately, you know that the VIN is among the first things a serious buyer will ask for. This little 17-character string says a lot about the car you’re looking at. If you’ve ever looked at used cars, you know the importance of running a vehicle identification number (VIN) check before you commit to anything. The mobile phone world has an analog to automotive VIN. What is an IMEI number? The VIN of the mobile world
